Garment with raisable bottom portion

ABSTRACT

A shirt with a raisable bottom portion is described. The shirt has an upper portion for positioning about the torso of a wearer and a bottom portion residing below the upper portion. The shirt includes a plurality of substantially aligned buttons that expand vertically along the upper portion. The shirt also includes a first set of substantially aligned button holes that expand vertically along the upper portion. The button holes are formed to affix with the buttons to allow a wearer to close the garment around the torso of the wearer. To raise the bottom portion, the shirt includes at second set of button holes formed around the bottom periphery of the shirt. Thus, a wearer can affix one of the button holes from the periphery with one of the buttons to elevate the bottom portion of the shirt while using a toilet.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

(1) Field of Invention

The present invention relates to a garment and, more particularly, to a shirt that is formed to allow a user to raise a bottom portion of the shirt while using a toilet.

(2) Description of Related Art

Garments and, in particular, shirts, have long been known in the art and have been designed to accommodate a variety of situations. For example, shirts with elongated and thick collars (i.e., turtle necks) have been devised to keep a wearer's neck warm during cold weather. Other shirts have been devised with hoods to keep the wearer's head and ears warm. Yet other shirts have been designed without sleeves altogether to use with warm weather. As can be appreciated, a number of alternative designs have been implemented to accommodate a variety of situations.

While the situations described above are related to weather, other common circumstances exist. For example, it is natural to use the toilet and, as is often the case, the person using the toilet is wearing some form of garment. Thus, garments have been formed to assist an individual while using the toilet. By way of example, long johns with rear flaps have been devised that allow a wearer to easily expose their rear side. Alternatively, Lederhosen, or traditional German trousers, were design with front flaps to enable a similar exposure.

However, in common day usage, it is neither practical nor socially acceptable to wear clothing with front and rear flaps. Traditional clothing often consists of a pair of pants and a shirt or button down shirt. Button down shirts are often elongated to enable the wearer to tuck the bottom portion of the button down shirt into the wearer's pants. Due to the length of the shirt, the shirt sometimes becomes problematic while using a toilet as the shirt may drag or touch the toilet itself. To prevent contaminating the shirt, the user must often hold the shirt while attempting to use the toilet and/or clean them self, which can become difficult at times.

Thus, a continuing need exists for a garment or shirt that eliminates the need for the wearer to hold the shirt while using a toilet and to prevent the shirt from touching a dirty toilet.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

While considering the failure of others to make and/or use all of the above factors/ingredients/steps/components in this technology space, the inventor unexpectedly realized that a garment (e.g., shirt) with a raisable bottom portion would eliminate the need for the wearer to hold the shirt while using a toilet and to prevent the shirt from touching the toilet. Thus, the present invention is a garment with a raisable portion.

The garment includes an upper portion for positioning about the torso of a wearer and a bottom portion residing below the upper portion. The garment has N substantially aligned attachment mechanisms that expand vertically along the upper portion. It should be noted that the term “N” refers to a number. The garment also includes a first set of substantially aligned mating attachments that expand vertically along the upper portion and that are formed to affix with the attachment mechanisms to allow a wearer to close the garment around the torso of the wearer. To appropriately attach, the first set also includes N mating attachments. At least one additional mating attachment is positioned in the bottom portion such that the garment includes N+1 mating attachments. Thus, a wearer can affix the at least one additional mating attachment with one of the attachment mechanisms to elevate the bottom portion while utilizing a toilet.

In another aspect, the at least one additional mating attachment is formed outside of the alignment of the first set of mating attachments.

In yet another aspect, the attachment mechanisms are buttons and the mating attachments are button holes.

In another aspect, the present invention further comprises a second set of button holes that expand around the bottom portion. In this aspect, the at least one additional mating attachment is included within the second set of button holes. Further, the second set of button holes are formed to affix with the buttons to allow a user to elevate the bottom portion while utilizing a toilet.

Additionally, the garment is a shirt with the buttons being aligned to button the shirt closed using the first set of button holes and with the buttons also being used to affix with the second set of button holes to allow a wearer to elevate the bottom portion of the shirt while utilizing a toilet.

In another aspect, the bottom portion includes a periphery such that the second set of button holes are formed in the shirt around the periphery of the bottom portion.

In yet another aspect, the second set of button holes are aligned substantially horizontally around the bottom portion.

Finally, as can be appreciated by one in the art, the present invention also comprises a method for forming the garment described herein. The method includes a plurality of acts of forming the garment according to the embodiments and aspects described below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed descriptions of the various aspects of the invention in conjunction with reference to the following drawings, where:

FIG. 1 is a perspective-view illustration of a garment according to the present invention, depicting the garment in an open configuration;

FIG. 2 is a perspective-view illustration of the garment, depicting the garment in a closed configuration;

FIG. 3 is a perspective-view illustration of the garment, illustrating the various sets of button holes;

FIG. 4 is a perspective-view illustration of the garment, illustrating a first part of a bottom portion being elevated;

FIG. 5 is a perspective-view illustration of the garment, illustrating both a first part and second part of the bottom portion being elevated.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention relates to a garment and, more particularly, to a shirt that is formed to allow a user to raise a bottom portion of the shirt while using a toilet. The following description is presented to enable one of ordinary skill in the art to make and use the invention and to incorporate it in the context of particular applications. Various modifications, as well as a variety of uses in different applications will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the general principles defined herein may be applied to a wide range of embodiments. Thus, the present invention is not intended to be limited to the embodiments presented, but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and novel features disclosed herein.

In the following detailed description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a more thorough understanding of the present invention. However, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without necessarily being limited to these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and devices are shown in block diagram form, rather than in detail, in order to avoid obscuring the present invention.

The reader's attention is directed to all papers and documents which are filed concurrently with this specification and which are open to public inspection with this specification, and the contents of all such papers and documents are incorporated herein by reference. All the features disclosed in this specification, (including any accompanying claims, abstract, and drawings) may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is only one example of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.

Furthermore, any element in a claim that does not explicitly state “means for” performing a specified function, or “step for” performing a specific function, is not to be interpreted as a “means” or “step” clause as specified in 35 U.S.C. Section 112, Paragraph 6. In particular, the use of “step of” or “act of” in the claims herein is not intended to invoke the provisions of 35 U.S.C. 112, Paragraph 6.

Please note, if used, the labels left, right, front, back, top, bottom, forward, reverse, clockwise and counter clockwise have been used for convenience purposes only and are not intended to imply any particular fixed direction. Instead, they are used to reflect relative locations and/or directions between various portions of an object.

(1) DESCRIPTION

As noted above, a problem exists when an individual uses a toilet while wearing a lengthy garment, such as a button down shirt. When using the toilet, the garment could potentially come in contact with the toilet and become contaminated. Thus, the present invention solves such a problem by providing a garment that is formed to allow a user to raise a bottom portion of the garment while using the toilet, thereby preventing contact and contamination of the garment.

It should be understood that although the present invention is described and illustrated with respect to a button down shirt, it can be utilized with any garment that includes a bottom portion that hangs near or below a wearer's waistline, non-limiting examples of which includes dresses, long coats, blouses, etc.

For a better understanding, FIG. 1 illustrates a garment 100 according to the present invention, depicting the garment 100 in an open position. As shown, the garment 100 includes an upper portion 102 for positioning about the torso of a wearer and a bottom portion 104 residing below the upper portion 102. The bottom portion 104 is generally the portion of the garment 100 that, when worn, hangs below a wearer's waistline.

To allow the garment 100 to be affixed to a wearer, a plurality (i.e., N) of substantially aligned attachment mechanisms 106 expand approximately vertically along the upper portion 102. The attachment mechanisms 106 are any suitable mechanism or device that can be used for attachment with a corresponding mating attachment, non-limiting examples of which include buttons, hook fastener, and snaps. Conversely, a first set of substantially aligned mating attachments 108 expand vertically along the upper portion 102 and that are formed to affix with the attachment mechanisms 106 to allow a wearer to close the garment 100 around the torso of the wearer. The first set includes N mating attachments 108 to reflect the number of attachment mechanisms 106. The mating attachments 108 are any suitable mechanism, device, configuration, shape, or form that can be used to mate or attach with the corresponding attachment mechanisms, non-limiting examples of which include button holes, loop fasteners, and snaps. For example, in a desired aspect, the present invention includes buttons and corresponding button holes as the attachment mechanisms 106 and the mating attachments 108, respectively. Thus, for convenience and clarity, the attachment mechanisms 106 and mating attachments 108 will be described hereinafter as buttons and button holes (although the terms can be used interchangeably).

As shown in FIG. 2, the garment 100 is in a closed position and can be affixed to an individual using buttons 200 and a first set of button holes 202. As noted above, the garment 100 is formed to allow a user to raise 203 the bottom portion 104 of the garment 100 while using a toilet. To provide such functionality, the garment 100 includes at least one additional hole 204 positioned in the bottom portion 104. Thus, the garment 100 includes N+1 mating attachments. The at least one additional hole 204 can be positioned in any suitable location in the bottom portion 104. For example, the additional hole 204 can be formed in alignment with the first set of button holes 202. Alternatively and in a desired aspect, the at least one additional hole 204 is formed outside of the alignment 208 of the first set of button holes 202.

Further, in addition to a single hole 204 positioned in the bottom portion 104, it may be desirable to include a second set of button holes 210 that expand around the bottom portion 104 (in this aspect, the at least one additional hole 204 is included within the second set of button holes 210). The second set of button holes 210 are formed to affix with the buttons 200 to allow a user to elevate the bottom portion 104 of the garment 100 while utilizing a toilet.

In another aspect and as shown in FIG. 3, the bottom portion 104 includes a periphery 300 such that the second set of button holes 210 are formed in the garment 100 around the periphery 300 of the bottom portion 104. Since the button holes 210 are located at the lower end of the shirt (i.e., the periphery 300), the added button holes will not be seen while wearing the shirt tucked into the wearer's pants.

In another aspect, the second set of button holes 210 can be formed such that they are aligned substantially horizontally 302 around the bottom portion 104. It should be understood that FIG. 3 illustrates both aspects, where some button holes 210 are wrapped around the periphery 300, while others are aligned horizontally 302.

As can be appreciated by one skilled in the art, the different spacing and pattern of the second set of button holes 210 can be altered to accommodate various lift patterns and sizes. Thus, in essences, in order to lift the garment 100 while sitting in restrooms, the present invention provides button holes (i.e., the second set of buttons 210) on the bottom portion 104 of the garment 100 (regardless of angle) with certain spacing (for different user waist sizes).

This is further depicted in FIG. 4, which illustrates a garment 100 in use, with the bottom portion 104 being elevated 400. It should also be noted that depending on the garment 100, the bottom portion 104 may have a first part 402 and a second part 402. For example, when applied to a shirt, the first part 402 would be one side of the shirt opening while the second part 404 would be the other side of the shirt opening. As illustrated in FIG. 4, the present invention can be employed such that only a first part 402 is elevated 400. In doing so, at least one of the holes in the second set of button holes 210 is affixed with a button 200 of the garment 100, thereby elevating 400 the bottom portion 104 of the garment. Further, in another aspect, instead of affixing the second part 404 with a button 200, a user could decide to turn 405 the second part 404 into the fold of the first part 402 (i.e., the fold created by elevating the first part 402).

Alternatively and as depicted in FIG. 5, both the first part 402 and the second part 404 can be elevated 400 using the present invention. For example, the first part 402 can be elevated 400 by attaching a first button hole 500 (from the second set of button holes) with a first button 502 while the second part 404 is elevated 400 by attaching a second button hole 504 (again, from the second set of button holes) with a second button 506. Although FIG. 5 depicts the first button hole 500 and second button hole 504 each being attached with different buttons, it should be understood that the present invention is not intended to be limited thereto as each of the first and second button holes 500 and 504, respectively, can be attached with the same button (e.g., 502). Thus, each of the first and second parts 402 and 404 can be raised independently and affixed with the same or different buttons using any of the corresponding button holes in the second set of button holes.

In summary, the present invention allows a user to raise a bottom portion of a garment while using a toilet. For example, before or while sitting on the toilet, the user can fold the shirt and connect the button holes (one for each side) to one (or more) of the buttons present on the center of the shirt in order to control the shirt's elevation height. By doing so, the shirt will stay at a higher than waist level and will not be contaminated by dirty toilets, allowing the user to free both hands. 

1. A garment with a raisable bottom portion, comprising: a garment having an upper portion for positioning about the torso of a wearer and a bottom portion residing below the upper portion, the garment having N substantially aligned attachment mechanisms that expand vertically along the upper portion; wherein the garment includes a first set of substantially aligned mating attachments that expand vertically along the upper portion and that are formed to affix with the attachment mechanisms to allow a wearer to close the garment around the torso of the wearer, wherein the first set includes N mating attachments; and at least one additional mating attachment positioned in the bottom portion such that the garment includes N+1 mating attachments, whereby a wearer can affix the at least one additional mating attachment with one of the attachment mechanisms to elevate the bottom portion while utilizing a toilet.
 2. The garment as set forth in claim 1, wherein the at least one additional mating attachment is formed outside of the alignment of the first set of mating attachments.
 3. The garment as set forth in claim 2, wherein the attachment mechanisms are buttons and the mating attachments are button holes.
 4. The garment as set forth in claim 3, further comprising a second set of button holes that expand around the bottom portion, the at least one additional mating attachment being included within the second set of button holes, and wherein the second set of button holes are formed to affix with the buttons to allow a user to elevate the bottom portion while utilizing a toilet.
 5. The garment as set forth in claim 4, wherein the garment is a shirt with the buttons being aligned to button the shirt closed using the first set of button holes and with the buttons also being used to affix with the second set of button holes to allow a wearer to elevate the bottom portion of the shirt while utilizing a toilet.
 6. The garment as set forth in claim 5, wherein the bottom portion includes a periphery such that the second set of button holes are formed in the shirt around the periphery of the bottom portion.
 7. The garment as set forth in claim 6, wherein the second set of button holes are aligned substantially horizontally around the bottom portion.
 8. The garment as set forth in claim 1, wherein the attachment mechanisms are buttons and the mating attachments are button holes.
 9. The garment as set forth in claim 8, further comprising a second set of button holes that expand around the bottom portion, the at least one additional mating attachment being included within the second set of button holes, and wherein the second set of button holes are formed to affix with the buttons to allow a user to elevate the bottom portion while utilizing a toilet.
 10. The garment as set forth in claim 9, wherein the garment is a shirt with the buttons being aligned to button the shirt closed using the first set of button holes and with the buttons also being used to affix with the second set of button holes to allow a wearer to elevate the bottom portion of the shirt while utilizing a toilet.
 11. The garment as set forth in claim 10, wherein the bottom portion includes a periphery such that the second set of button holes are formed in the shirt around the periphery of the bottom portion.
 12. The garment as set forth in claim 9, wherein the second set of button holes are aligned substantially horizontally around the bottom portion.
 13. A method for forming a garment with a raisable bottom portion, comprising acts of: forming a garment having an upper portion for positioning about the torso of a wearer and a bottom portion residing below the upper portion, the garment being formed to have N substantially aligned attachment mechanisms that expand vertically along the upper portion; forming the garment to include a first set of substantially aligned mating attachments that expand vertically along the upper portion and that are formed to affix with the attachment mechanisms to allow a wearer to close the garment around the torso of the wearer, wherein the first set includes N mating attachments; and forming the garment to include at least one additional mating attachment positioned in the bottom portion such that the garment includes N+1 mating attachments, whereby a wearer can affix the at least one additional mating attachment with one of the attachment mechanisms to elevate the bottom portion while utilizing a toilet.
 14. The method as set forth in claim 13, further comprising an act of forming the garment such that the at least one additional mating attachment is formed outside of the alignment of the first set of mating attachments.
 15. The method as set forth in claim 14, further comprising an act of forming the garment such that the attachment mechanisms are buttons and the mating attachments are button holes.
 16. The method as set forth in claim 15, further comprising an act of forming the garment to include a second set of button holes that expand around the bottom portion, the at least one additional mating attachment being included within the second set of button holes, and wherein the second set of button holes are formed to affix with the buttons to allow a user to elevate the bottom portion while utilizing a toilet.
 17. The method as set forth in claim 16, further comprising an act of forming the garment such that the garment is a shirt with the buttons being aligned to button the shirt closed using the first set of button holes and with the buttons also being used to affix with the second set of button holes to allow a wearer to elevate the bottom portion of the shirt while utilizing a toilet.
 18. The method as set forth in claim 17, further comprising an act of forming the garment such that the bottom portion includes a periphery, where the second set of button holes are formed in the shirt around the periphery of the bottom portion.
 19. The method as set forth in claim 18, further comprising an act of forming the garment such that the second set of button holes are aligned substantially horizontally around the bottom portion. 